The Effect of Varying Protein Intake on TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS Infection in Mice

<p>Three hundred Swiss Webster albino mice three weeks of age were placed on low (8%), medium (24%), high (48%) protein levels and a commercial laboratory animal feed, Purina Chow for various lengths of time: (1) simultaneously with infection, and four weeks thereafter, (2) three weeks before infection and throughout the four-week infection period, and (3) six weeks prior to infection and during the infection period. The protein source was casein. Sixty of the 300 mice used served as noninfected controls, and the other 240 were each infected with 400 washed, suspended <em>Trichinella spiralis</em> larvae obtained from a rat by the digestion method.</p> <p>All of the infected mice lost weight soon after infection. There is no significant difference in the yield of the adult worms from the small intestine of the mice on various protein diets and for various lengths of time. However, the younger mice had more adult worms than the older ones. Mice on low protein yielded the highest number of larvae. Mice on medium protein had the lowest number of larvae. Mice on Purina Chow had more encysted larvae than mice on medium protein, however, mice on high protein had more larvae than mice on medium protein and on Purina Chow, Death was most prevalent among mice on low protein.</p> <p>The most significant finding is that a low or deficient protein diet lowers the hosts resistance and consequently many more larvae developed than in mice on a normal protein diet.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Microbiology

Year

1964

Author dc:creator

• Kwan, Clare K.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Edward D. Wagner
• Raymond E. Ryckman
• Donald M. Brown
• Raymond A. Mortensen
• Ariel A. Roth

• Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
• Animal Experimentation and Research
• Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition
• Laboratory and Basic Science Research
• Microbiology
• Parasitology
• Trichinella

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1542

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2319